Seawater battery

Abstract

A high energy multicell seawater activated battery with provision for unimly distributing a desired concentration of the electrolyte for maximum power output. When the battery is submerged to a predetermined depth, seawater is admitted into a mixing chamber where it flows through a plurality of intercommunicating compartments each containing an electrolyte of pelletized potassium hydroxide (KOH) which dilutes to form an ionized solution. The solution flows into a plurality of evacuated cells to establish an ionic flow from a nickel oxide hydroxide (Ni00H) cathode to a zinc (Zn) anode in each cell. An outlet valve in each cell releases the solution to reduce the internal cell pressure when the external pressure decreases as when the battery is retrieved. The quantity of pelletized electrolyte, seawater flow rate, and turbulence within the chamber are predetermined to insure uniform distribution of electrolyte in solution at a desired concentration. The improved electrolyte mixing thereby results in a battery of relatively high power output per unit of volume.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An electric cell activated upon immersion in a solvent comprising: housing means having a cavity formed therein;   electrode means spatially positioned within the cavity;   electrolyte mixing means connected to said housing means forming a discrete chamber separate from the cavity and including inlet means at one end of the chamber for receiving the solvent, electrolyte pellets evenly distributed within the chamber for dissolution in the solvent to form a uniform dispersion of electrolyte in solution, and passage means at the opposite end of the chamber for directing said solution into said cavity; and   said electrode means and said pellets consisting of materials capable of producing electrical energy when the electrodes are simultaneously exposed to the solution.   
     
     
       2. An electric cell according to claim 1 wherein: said electrolyte mixing means includes a plurality of spaced baffles within the chamber defining a series of compartments between said inlet means and said passage means each containing said electrolyte pellets and forming a tortuous flowpath for the solvent.   
     
     
       3. An electric cell according to claim 2 wherein said inlet means comprises: inlet valve means for admitting the solvent into said chamber when the external pressure exceeds a predetermined level above the internal chamber pressure.   
     
     
       4. An electric cell according to claim 3 further comprising: outlet valve means connected to said housing means for discharging the solvent from said cavity when the internal cavity pressure exceeds a predetermined level above the external pressure.   
     
     
       5. An electric cell according to claim 4 wherein: the solvent consists essentially of water;   said electrode means consists essentially of a Zn anode and a NiOOH cathode; and   said electrolyte pellets consist essentially of KOH.   
     
     
       6. A solvent activated multicell battery comprising: a stack of cells containing electrodes spatially positioned within each of said cells;   electrolyte mixing means connected to said cells forming a discrete and separate chamber and including inlet means at one end of the chamber for receiving the solvent, electrolyte pellets for dissolution in the solvent to form a uniform dispersion of electrolyte in solution, and passage means at the opposite end of the chamber for directing said solution into each of said cells; and   said electrodes and said pellets consisting of materials capable of producing electrical energy when the electrodes are simultaneously exposed to the solution.   
     
     
       7. A battery according to claim 6 wherein: said chamber includes a plurality of passages respectively connected to each of said cells;   said inlet means includes a plurality of inlet valve means respectively connected to said passages for admitting the solvent into each of said passages when the external pressure exceeds a predetermined level above the internal passage pressure.   
     
     
       8. A battery according to claim 6 wherein: said chamber includes a single passage connected to each of said cells; and   said inlet means includes a single inlet valve means connected to said passage for admitting the solvent thereinto when the external pressure exceeds a predetermined level above the internal passage pressure.   
     
     
       9. A battery according to claim 7 or claim 8 further comprising: outlet valve means connected to each of said cells for discharging the solvent therefrom when the internal cell pressure exceeds a predetermined level above the external pressure.   
     
     
       10. A battery according to claim 9 wherein: the solvent consists essentially of water;   said electrodes consist essentially of a Zn anode and a NiOOH cathode; and   said electrolyte pellets consist essentially of KOH.